University relents on Autzen seat cushion size

EUGENE — The University of Oregon is giving Duck football fans a little more room to cushion their seats at Autzen Stadium.

The Associated Press

EUGENE — The University of Oregon is giving Duck football fans a little more room to cushion their seats at Autzen Stadium.

It has issued limits on seat cushions that were a little bigger than initially proposed — allowing 3 1/2; inches more in depth and a half inch in width, the Eugene Register-Guard (http:bit.ly/16Nbyu4 ) reported Tuesday.

After the initial dimensions were proposed in June, the paper reported it was unable to find any cushion that met the specifications in nine Eugene-Springfield sporting goods stores and departments.

The permitted seat cushion size is 17.5 inches wide by 13.5 inches deep with a seat back that does not exceed 19 inches. The cushion itself can be no more than 4 inches thick.

The athletic department said it had proposed the limits because some fans were bringing in seats that took up more than one person's space on the long benches at the stadium.

The new rule aims to ensure unobstructed enjoyment of events and to keep the proper seating capacity, the university has said.

"We increased the dimensions slightly due to some fan feedback we received," said Craig Pintens, senior associate athletic director. "We felt we could adjust a little bit and still not affect the fans around them."

Many Duck fans rent cushions from the school, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.

University procurement records show a total of 9,210 people leased chair backs for the season at $35 each. Another 7,663 rented chair backs on a game-by-game basis, at $6 per game, for the season's seven home games.

The university is raising the season price to rent a portable seat to $50 for the coming season, but the game-by-game rental price will remain $6.